EDINBURGH MUMSNETTERS - HELP!!

[Raptorrethy]

A few months ago I started a thread about living near Edinburgh - specifically within 30 mins of the airport. Moving to that area was on the cards and it is again - but the thread, of course, has disappeared as it was in Chat!! It was over 100 posts of great, friendly advice and I NEED IT AGAIN!! You lot were soooo lovely and I hope you will perhaps take a minute or two to post your advice again as a move is even more imminent now. THANK YOU in advance.

So - we would like to be semi-rural, preferably in a village, but must be 30-40 mins from Edinburgh Airport. Schools are a crucial factor - we have DD8 and DS6. We want, as does everyone, a lovely and successful primary school and then caring and thriving secondary - good state or private. DD very academic, DS more into being as noisy as possible as befits a 6yo boy . I am a teacher so would be looking for a job, too, but not crucial straight away. I'm also interested in the weather and midges - are they a nightmare?!

Let's go - can we make over 100 posts from unbelievably brilliant Scottish people again???

and here's a for good measure.

What was your budget? Also, midges are only really an issue next to water. Non moving water is the worst.

Budget not really set yet but about 400K I think. It's the area/s I really want to establish first. Good to know re midges - no lake in the back garden then

Off to walk DCs + dog now but will check back later.

Linlithgow. Every time.

Is your teaching qualification Scottish?

If it isn't you will have to contacts GTCS to find out if you can register with them for your sector.
You cannot teach in Scottish state school without being GTCS registered and not all non-Scottish teaching qualifications are accepted. So they would advise you.

I think PGCE is?

Sorry- I know that's not about houses but you did say you would be looking to work!

But private schools in Scotland will take people with non-Scottish teaching qualifications by the way.

Limekilns? Linlithgow? Aberdour?

Charlestown, limekilns, aberdour, Kinross would be my first thoughts.

Linlithgow would be my first choice. Fifteen minutes from the airport, direct trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow, good schools and lots going on for families. It is reflected in the house prices though compared to other towns nearby.

Thank you - will check out Linlithgow. Is it a town or a village? I know nothing...

I am qualified in England and have taught abroad but in a private school. I would be happy to teach in a private school again...I also have a hankering to work with books, such as a really good book shop with a huge literature section or in the children's literature section but who knows what the future may hold!

Good to know we could get something naice to live in for the money. A house each? Tempting as DH is very messy

How about schools? Any specific ones I can check out? Especially secondary as I'm more nervous about those! I know there are no grammars in Scotland but would love to send DD to a quite academic school...would there be a bus from Linlithgow-area to a school actually in Edinburgh (if that's where the best school would be)?

I found a Scotsman league table link for Secondary results last year - we don't publish league tables in the same way - so maybe that will be helpful?

www.scotsman.com/news/education/full-exam-results-tables-from-across-scotland-1-2698277

Also good to check out HMIE (our equivalent of OFSTED) reports on schools - go to Education Scotland website and they should have links.

Oh and schools are allocated on catchment area of pupils so that's a consideration when looking for houses.

They don't choose by SATs or suchlike - thank goodness.

Penicuik was mentioned on the previous thread. There's also Balerno.

What about East Lothian? Places such as North Berwicj, Gullane, Aberlady. Train service to Edinburgh. A1 then City Bypass to airport. Good schools both primary then secondary. I'm a teacher too and jobs are pretty thin in ground depending on what you teach? Lots of supply but poor pay now.

On the ground even

Great please keep them coming! I remember Penicuik was mentioned a lot...and some sort of light-hearted banter about whether it could be considered Edinburgh or not

Salmotrutta thank you for link.

Indy I teach English...I have been keeping an eye on the TES and there certainly are not many jobs in Scotland! Everyone must be very happy in their schools envy]

I should say that link is for state schools.

The Education Scotland website probably gives reports for independents too?

For secondary schools, linlithgow academy is pretty academic. I went there a long time ago but most of my year went to university. There are a number of doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants etc amongst my year. The catchment is pretty affluent with a high percentage of professional parents and it was the expectation that you would go to Uni.

Private schools are in edinburgh but lots of parents choose to live in linlithgow because of the school. There are some who travel in, usually by train which is a 20 minute journey plus onward travel. There are some very highly rated private schools in Edinburgh such as Fettes. But to give an example, we are weighing up the cost of private schooling versus the cost of moving back to Linlithgow.

so you started the thread in chat again?

Look at My Job Scotland rather than TES. That's where LA advertise now.

I agree with Linlithgow - moved to the area from Australia a couple of years ago and really love it.

You can commute to Edinburgh and/or Glasgow - there's loads of infrastructures and yet a semi-rural feel to it.

heidi yes, deliberately, for traffic. This time I will print the thread off when it's finished.

Poppy how interesting! Do you miss the Aussie weather?!

South Queensferry is nice.
Might be pushing it to get to the airport in 30 mins from Kinross,depending on the traffics but the high school there is excellent.

South Queensferry was deffo mentioned on the other thread, I remember now!